Debt-for-nature swaps: A bibliometric analysis of global research trends (1988–2025)
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DOIhttp://dx.doi.org/10.21511/ee.16(4).2025.04
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Article InfoVolume 16 2025, Issue #4, pp. 52-66
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Type of the article: Research Article
Abstract
This study provides the first comprehensive bibliometric mapping of the Debt-for-Nature Swap (DFNS) literature over the period 1988–2025, highlighting its intellectual structure, thematic evolution, and global patterns of scientific collaboration. A total of 117 publications were retrieved from the Scopus database using targeted keyword searches and analyzed with the Bibliometrix package in R. The analysis included annual publication trends, productivity by authors, institutions, and countries, most cited works, keyword co-occurrence networks, thematic maps, and trend topic analyses. Results show that DFNS research initially focused on environmental protection and debt relief, but since 2015 has shifted toward climate finance, blue bonds, and sustainable development. Notable turning points include the Seychelles’ issuance of the first blue bond in 2018 and renewed interest following the COVID-19 debt surge. The United States, the United Kingdom, and China lead in research output, while most DFNS projects are implemented in developing countries. Citation and thematic analyses reveal integration with biodiversity conservation and emerging links to innovative financial instruments. By systematically mapping the field and identifying research gaps, this study offers evidence-based insights for environmental economics, guiding policy design at the intersection of sovereign debt management, biodiversity conservation, and climate finance.
- Keywords
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JEL Classification (Paper profile tab)Q56, F34, Q58
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References26
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Tables6
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Figures3
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- Figure 1. Annual DFNS publications
- Figure 2. Keywords co-occurrence network
- Figure 3. Thematic map
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- Table 1. Main information
- Table 2. Most productive authors
- Table 3. Most productive institutions
- Table 4. Most productive countries
- Table 5. Most cited documents
- Table 6. Most relevant sources
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